{"id":7249,"date":"2024-11-01T08:56:14","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T08:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/?p=7249"},"modified":"2026-02-12T10:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:36:12","slug":"disable-xmlrpc-php-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/disable-xmlrpc-php-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"xmlrpc.php In WordPress: What It Is And Why Disable It"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In WordPress<\/a>, xmlrpc.php is a file that allows your website to communicate with external applications, such as mobile apps or remote publishing tools. It acts as a bridge that enables you to access and control your site from outside the WordPress dashboard. While this functionality can be useful, it’s important to understand how XML-RPC works, as it has been linked to several security risks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major concerns with XML-RPC is its vulnerability to brute force attacks and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)<\/a> attempts. Hackers often target this file to exploit weak points in your website’s security, potentially gaining unauthorized access or overloading your server. Due to these risks, many WordPress users disable xmlrpc.php to enhance their site’s safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, we explain what xmlrpc.php is, why it was created, and how it was used then and now. Next, we\u2019ll go through the reasons for disabling XML-RPC in WordPress. After that, we\u2019ll explore 2 ways to check if XML-RPC is enabled on your website. Lastly, we\u2019ll go through the step-by-step process to disable XML-RPC manually and via a plugin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. The xmlrpc.php file allows WordPress to communicate with other apps and services, like mobile apps or remote publishing tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. It was created to help users manage their WordPress sites remotely, especially when internet connections were slow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Over time, xmlrpc.php has become less useful as newer technologies like the REST API have replaced it. However, the XML-RPC exploit has become a major security concern, as hackers can misuse this file to launch brute force attacks or DDoS attacks, damaging your website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Disabling xmlrpc.php can help protect your site from these attacks, improving security and performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Disable XML-RPC easily using a plugin or manually editing your site’s .htaccess file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. For most users, disabling xmlrpc.php won\u2019t affect daily site operations unless you rely on certain remote publishing features or specific plugins.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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